2017/18 PLAYER FOCUS: MATHEW RYAN

After arriving from Valencia at the beginning of the season, Mathew Ryan quickly established himself as Brighton & Hove Albion’s first-choice goalkeeper for the club's debut Premier League season.

The Australian shot-stopper played every single minute of Premier League football for the Seagulls, keeping ten clean sheets along the way, while making a number of key saves.

Ryan’s debut came against Manchester City on the opening day of the season, but the 26-year-old had to wait until Albion’s visit to Vicarage Road for his first shutout, as Chris Hughton’s team drew 0-0 with Watford.

Albion’s number one made an exceptional double save in the dying moments of the 1-1 draw against Everton at the Amex Stadium in October, as he twice denied Nikola Vlasic.

The Australian was at it again when Hughton’s side visited Old Trafford the following month, as he produced another magnificent double save from Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku.

Ryan’s liking for a double stop continued in the following game, when Crystal Palace visited the Amex, as he saved from Christian Benteke before quickly getting to his feet to parry Wilfried Zaha’s rebounded effort.

As the season continued, so did Ryan’s full-length-of-the-field goal celebrations - as he sprinted from his goal line to join his team-mates on a number of occasions.

Then came his penalty save in the dying stages of Albion’s 1-1 draw at Stoke City, as he made a crucial stop from Charlie Adam’s spot-kick, before Lewis Dunk recovered to stop the follow-up effort.

Another save from the penalty spot came when the Seagulls played Everton at Goodison Park, as he tipped Wayne Rooney’s spot-kick around the post, but Hughton’s side lost the game 2-0.

Ryan’s final clean sheet of the season came against Manchester United at the Amex, when the Seagulls secured their survival in the Premier League for another season.

The shot-stopper’s campaign ended with a 4-0 defeat at Liverpool, but Ryan made a string of fine stops to keep the score down at Anfield - as a successful first season in an Albion shirt came to an end.